Origin
Richland Hills, TX
Late night in Richland Hills on Saturday
Local time
12:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Richland Hills, TX to Houston, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 11m
Distance
266.9 mi
430 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 58m
★
6 AM
4h 12m
8 AM
4h 38m
10 AM
4h 21m
12 PM
4h 18m
3 PM
4h 22m
5 PM
4h 37m
8 PM
4h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Trip Overview
The drive from Richland Hills, TX to Houston, TX covers 266.9 miles and takes about 4h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Vance Road, Boulevard 26, Bedford Euless Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.33 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
133.5 miles from Richland Hills, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 5m into the drive .
About the Cities
Arriving in Houston, TX
Full guide →Houston is a sprawling port city in Southeastern Texas. An oil boom and continuing international immigration has brought explosive growth to the city, and it is now the fifth largest metropolitan area in the United States and the most diverse large city since 2021. While at first glance, the city appears to be a 9-5 central business district surrounded by a sea of suburbs and strip malls, there are many hidden gems to be discovered.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 11m. Total distance: 266.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 11m drive with frequent turns across 266.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Vance Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 11m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Richland Hills, TX to Houston, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Vance Road | — | — |
| Boulevard 26 | — | — |
| Bedford Euless Road | — | — |
| Airport Freeway | — | — |
| TX 183 East | — | — |
| SH 121 | — | — |
| SH 183 | — | — |
| John W Carpenter Freeway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Vance Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richland Hills, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on Dover Lane
118 ft
·
6 sec
·
Dover Lane
2
Turn right onto Vance Road
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Vance Road
3
Turn right onto Boulevard 26
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Boulevard 26
4
Turn right onto Bedford Euless Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Bedford Euless Road
5
Turn left onto Airport Freeway
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Airport Freeway
6
Take the ramp slight left toward TX 183 East, TX 121 North
502 ft
·
12 sec
·
TX 183 East, TX 121 North
7
Keep slight left
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
8
Merge slight left onto SH 121/183 TEXpress
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
SH 121/183 TEXpress
9
Continue on SH 183 TEXpress
12 mi
·
11 min
·
SH 183 TEXpress
10
Keep slight right to continue on SH 183 TEXpress
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
SH 183 TEXpress
11
Merge slight right onto John W Carpenter Freeway
0.8 mi
·
51 sec
·
John W Carpenter Freeway
12
Merge slight left onto North Stemmons Freeway
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
North Stemmons Freeway
13
Take the exit slight right toward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street West
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Continental Avenue, Commerce Street West
14
Turn straight onto North Stemmons Freeway
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
North Stemmons Freeway
15
Turn left onto Continental Avenue
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Continental Avenue
16
Turn left onto McKinney Avenue
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
McKinney Avenue
17
Take the ramp slight left toward US 75 North
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
US 75 North
18
Merge slight left onto Woodall Rodgers Freeway
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Woodall Rodgers Freeway
19
Keep slight right to continue on I 45 South: Houston
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
I 45 South: Houston
20
Merge slight left onto Julius Schepps Freeway
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
21
Keep slight left to continue on Julius Schepps Freeway
234 mi
·
4 hr 5 min
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
22
Continue on Gulf Freeway
272 ft
·
4 sec
·
Gulf Freeway
23
Take the exit slight left toward I 10 East: Beaumont
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
I 10 East: Beaumont
24
Keep slight left to continue on Milam Street
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Milam Street
25
Continue on Milam Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Milam Street
26
Turn right onto Prairie Street
328 ft
·
14 sec
·
Prairie Street
27
Turn right onto Louisiana Street
515 ft
·
17 sec
·
Louisiana Street
28
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 133.5 miles from Richland Hills, TX, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 59 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.5 miles or 2h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Houston, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Richland Hills, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Richland Hills, TX
This is one driving day of about 266.9 miles and 4h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Richland Hills, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 133.5 mi from Richland Hills, TX · 2h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
133 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 133.5 miles from Richland Hills, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Houston, TX
The final approach into Houston, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Houston, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.33 one way
$80.66 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
93 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $44.14 | $88.29 |
| premium | $4.54 | $47.65 | $95.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $58.93 | $117.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 80.1 | 0 | $28.02 | $12.81 |
| Efficient EV | 66.7 | 0 | $23.35 | $10.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 106.8 | 1 | $37.37 | $17.08 |
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Houston, TX
Late night in Houston on Saturday
Local time
12:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
18 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 11m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Richland Hills, TX to Houston, TX covers 266.9 miles and takes about 4h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Vance Road, Boulevard 26, Bedford Euless Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 133.5 miles from Richland Hills, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.33 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 11m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Richland Hills, TX to Houston, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Richland Hills, TX to Houston, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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